Liquid depth indicating device



Aug. 9, 1932. H. w. KI NG LIQUID DEPTH INDICATING DEVICE Filed March 11. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l i If in wanton floi'ace 77 1 atfoznmya Aug. 9, 1932.

H. w. KING LIQUID DEPTH INDICATING DEVICE Filed March 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 uveuhw Mace 7% K27 aflozumss Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITE STATES:

TENT, QFFICE IORAOE W. KING,' ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO KING-SEELEY CORPORA- TION, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN LIQUID DEPTH INDIGATING nnvrcn Application filed March 11, 1925. Serial No. 14,715.

This invention relates to liquid depth indicating devices and more'particularly to liquid depth indicating devices of that type having an air'chamber in communication with the liquid being measured and also with a pressure gage. One of the objects of theinvention is the provision of means dependent upon the motion of the liquid being measured for effectively replenishing the air chamber 115'v with air. Another object is the provision of air replenishing means which is dependent for operation upon the undulation or rising and falling of the surface of the liquid being measured. 1 Further objects of the invention reside in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a liquid depth indicating device embodying my in vention; V v

Figure 2 is an elevation thereof at right 7 angles to Figure 1 and shown partly in sect c Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; V e

Figure l is a cross section on the line 4 1 of Figure 3; is

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a modi fied liquid depth indicating device;

Figure 6 is aside elevation of a portion thereof;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another modifiedliquid depth indicating device;

Figure 9 is an elevation thereof partly in section;

Figure'lO is a cross section on the line 10 10 of Figure 9. s

As shown in the present instance myliquid depth indicating device is applied to the sup ply tank 1 of a motor vehicle having the air vent 2 and the opening 3 in its top. This latter opening isin the present instance sur- .wall 10 between the topand lower end of the bell. The restricted opening 8 is in the partition wall. 11 is a fine meshed screenex tending across the open lower end of the bell for straining the liquid fuel as it passes into the feeding chamber. 12 is a pressure tube extending air tight through the top of the bell 9 and having an open lower end coni- Inunicating with the upper portion of the air chamber. This tube extends through and is secured to the plate 13 which'is clamped between the upper end of the annular. flange 4 and the annular flange of the nut 5, and the upper, end of this tube is suitably detachably connected to the tube 1 1 leads to the pressure gage 15 located upon the "dash of the motor vehicle. '16 is asuction tube extending through and securedto theplate 13 and extending air tight through the top of the hell 9 and the partition wall 10, and having an open lower end terminating within the lower portion of the feed-o ing chamber 7. This tube is detachably con nected to a suitable device for withdrawing the liquid fuel such as a pump, vacuum'tank or the like, by suitable means including the tube 17 18 is the pressure relief tube extending through'and secured to the plate 13 and extending air tight through the topa'of the bell 9 and having an open lower endter minating within the recess 19 which latteris formed by depressing a portion. of the par tition wall 10. The upper end portion of th s bell 9 be at a predetermined height. This is accomplished in the present instance by placing the air chamber 6 in communication with the liquid fuel through the restricted opening 20 in the side wall of the bell and above the partition wall, and also by replenishing the bell with air. As shown 21, 22, 23 and 24 are reservoirs located at different heights above the air chamber 6 and within the supply tankland communicating with the lower portion of the feeding chamber 7 through the tubes 25, 26, 27 and 28 respectively which pass air tight through the top of the bell 9 and the partition wall'10 and have open lower ends terminating in substantially the same plane, and normally sealed by the liquid fuel. The reservoirs have open upper ends for alternately receiving air and the liquid fuel during the undulation or rising and falling of the surface of the latter caused by the movement of the motor vehicle. For trapping air I have provided in each reservoir an inverted cup 29 preferably secured to aside of a tube leading upwardly through the base of the reservoir and having its top spaced above and its side wall terminating below the open upper end of this tube. Each reservoir has a capacity greater than the combined capacities of the inverted cup therewithin and the tube leading therefrom to the feeding chamber.

In operationand assuming the liquid depth indicating device to be in the supply tank and the latter to be empty, liquid ,fuel when poured into the supply tank passes upwardly through the screen 11 into the feeding cham ber 7 and the various tubes having open upper ends and also through the restricted opening 20 into air chambert until the pressure of air in this air chamber counterbalances the hydrostatic pressure of theliquid fuel in the supply tank. The pressure within this air chamber is communicated to the gage 15 throughthetubes 12 and 14. The liquid fuel drawn from the supply tank through the screen 11' and tubes 16 and 17 to the liquid fuel withdrawing device from which it may be fed to the carburetor in the usual manner. 7 During the travel of the motor vehicle the surface of the liquid fuel in the supply tank undulates or rises and falls so that one of the reservoirs is alternately exposed to the air and filled with the liquid fuel. When the liquid fuel fills the reservoir and the surface of the liquid'fuel temporarily lowers again at the location of the reservoir, the liquid fuel in this reservoir will pass downwardly and into the tube connected to the reservoir a correspondmg. distance and in doing so this liquid fuel will carry the air trapped in the inverted cup of the reservoir downwardly through the tube and into the feeding chamber. This air which has been carried into the feeding chamber is then free to pass upwardly through the restricted opening 8 into the air chamber 6 to displace any liquid fuel therewithin down to the level of the restricted opening 20 after which any surplus air will escape through this restricted opening. When the liquid fuel starts flowing from a reservoir to the feeding chamber it will continue flowing under a siphoning action until the lower end of the inverted cup in that reservoir is uncovered and air again fills the inverted cup. 1

The lower end of the pressure relief tube 18 is sealed by liquid fuel located in the recess 19 so thatunder normal operating conditions no air enters the air chamber through the pressure relief tube. However, if either an abnormal suction or an abnormal pressure is created in the air chamber, the pressure relief tube serves as a passageway for air either to or from the air chamber, so that the indicating liquid in the gage will neither be withdrawn or forced therefrom.

The opening 3 in the supply tank has a diameter greater than that of the hell 9 and also the distances between the furthermost side wall of the oppositely positioned reservoirs whereby the device may be readily inserted into the supply tank or removed there. from. These reservoirs are preferably secured to the tubes 12, 16, 18 and 28 to form a substantial unit therewith.

Inthe modified construction shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the bell 30 has extending thereacross above its lower end the partition wall 31 having the restricted opening 32 therein and the depression 33 forming the recess 34, into which extends the lower open end'of the pressure relief tube 35. A suitable cup shaped-fine meshed screen 36 is secured to the bell 30 and the partition wall 37 which latter depends from the partition wall 31 and extends between the opposite sides of the bell; The tubes 38, 39, 40 and 41 which are connected to'the reservoirs 42, 43, 44 and 45 respectively located at difi'erent distances above the bell 30 open into the feeding chamber 46, which is formed below the partition wall 31 and enclosed by the side wall of the bell below this partition wall and the wall 37 as well as the screen 36, theopenings being in the lower ends of these tubes and below the partition wall .31. 47 is the suction tube which is detachably connected to the vacuum tank or other suitable source ofvacuum and is soldered to the side of the bell 30'and has preferably a lower plugged end 48 and a lateral opening 49, which is located belowthe partition wall. 31 and registering with the space or chamber formed by the partition wall 31, the" wall 37, the screen 36 and the side-wall of the bell .30 between thei partition "wall and the screen.

In operation the liquidltfuel iszdrawn into the suction" tube 47 independently 'of either the feeding chamber 46 "or the'air chamber 50 thereaboveand enclosedby the. bell 3 0 and the partition w'all 31. This liquid fuel,how-

described in that air is introducedrintermit- V tently to the feeding. chamber below the-air 7 V chamber to maintain a predetermined level of liquid fuel in the bell, which in this construction is determined bythe lower end of the bell 30.

In the modified liquid depth indicating device illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 the' general arrangement of parts of the liquid and the transverse partition wall 54 located between the top and lower end of the bell.

The feeding chamber is located below the air chamber and communicates therewith through the restricted openlng 55. The air chamber communicates with the liquid fuel in the suply tank through'the restricted open- 111g 56 located above the transverse partition 57 is a line meshed screen extendlng wall. across the lower-end 0f the bell for strainng chamber. 58 is apressure tube extending air tight through the top of the bell 53 and having an open lower end comunicating with the upper portion of the air chamber and an upper end communicating with a suitable pressure gage, which is preferably located upon the dash of the motor vehicle. 59 is a suction tube extending longitudinally and at the side of the bell 53 and below the lower end of this bell, the lower end of the tube being closed by a suitable'means such as the plug 60. The bell is preferably provided with a longitudinally extending concavity or groove 61 for receiving the suction tube, this concavity or groove being formed in any suitable manner as by means of suitable dies used in drawing the bell. The suction tube is secured by and suitable means to the bell, there being no necessity of making the joint between the side wall of the bell and the suction tube air tight. 62 is an opening in the suction tube 59 above the plug and registering with the opening 63 in the side wall of the bell below the transverse partition wall 54. This suction tube is suitably connected to a suitable liquid fuel withdrawing device. 64 is a pressure relief tube extending air tight through the top of the bell 53 and having an open lower end terminating within the recess :chamber, of means for introducing air'into said air chamber including a} reservoir for alternately receiving air and the liquid 'duringthe undulation of the liquid surface,

'the'liquid extendingbetween said reservoir f 65 {formed by depressing a :p'ortion'fof the transverse partition wall 5 L The upper end porti'on'of thisipressure relief tube isprefercurved downwardly" above thejpla'te 66 and terminates in an open end :in 'communi- 70 cation with the air outside the supply tank. Both the pressure tube 58 j and" the suction tube'59, as well as the pressurerelieftubebl are preferably fixedly secured to the plate. V 1 67,*68,'f69' and 70 are'reservo-irs located at different heights above the air chamber-"51 andwithin the supply tankand communicatingwith the lower portion of the feeding chamber through the tubes 71, 72, 73 and 74; respectively, which as shownypass air go tight throughthe' bell 53 and'the" transverse V partition'wall 54. The reservoirs have open upper ends for alternately receiving air and theliquidfuel during the undulation or' risingand falling of the surface thereof caused '85 bythe movement of the motor'vehi'cle. Each of the reservoirs is preferably-providedwith "the longitudinally extending concavity or groove 7 5 for'receivmg the suct1on'tube59.

The tubes 71,72, 7 3 and 74 extend "air tightWO throughthe bottoms of theires'ervoirs and each tube terminatesinian open'upper end located above the bottom of its respective reservoir and enclosedby the invertedlicup, M 76 for trappingair. v

The operation of thisliquid d-epth'indicatinc; device is the same as that illustrated in Eiguresl to 4 inclusive, but the arrangement is such that cpmparatively shallow reservoirs I 'may be used inasmuch as their diametersare the liqiud fuel as it passes into the feeding a substantially equal to the diameter of the er 'thanfthe combined capacities of theinverted cup respectively located there within"1'05 and; the tube leading from this inverted cup to'the feeding chamber.

What I claim as my invention-is: 1. In a liquid depth indicating device,'the combination with an air chamber provided""" *with' means for placing said chamber in communication with a liquid having an undulatorysurface and a gage, means forpla'cing said g-age in communication with i said air and means forming a passagewayfor air and I20 and air chamber including 7 an air trap above the bottom'of said reservoir" for receiving air munication with a .liquid having an undulatory surface, and a gage, means for; placing said gage in communicatiouwithtsaid"air y chamber, ofmeansfor lntro'duclng airlnto said air chamber including a reservoir fonalternately' receivlng 'alr and the liquid durlng the undulation of the liquid surface, and 7 ly extending portions provided with an opening into said reservoir. r

3. In a liquid depth indicating device, the I combinationwith an air chamber provided with means for placing said chamber in communication with a liquid having a rising and falling surface, and a gage, means for placing said gage in communication with said air chamber, of means for introducing air-into said air chamber including reservoirs spaced at different distances above said air chamber and having openings whereby said reservoirs may alternately receive air andliquid during therising and falling of the liquid surface, and means forming passageways for air and the liquid extending between said reservoirs and air chamber, each passageway-forming means having its lower end normally sealed by the liquid and including an air trap at the upper end of the respective passageway for directly receiving air and liquid from the respective reservoir.

4;. In a liquid depth indicating device, the combination withan airchamber provided with means for placing said chamber in communication with a liquid having an'undulatory surface, and a gage, means for placing said gage in communication with said air chamber, of means for introducing air in said air chamber including a reservoir for alternately receiving air and the liquid during the undulation of the liquid surface, a tube extending through the bottom of said reservoir and communicating with said air chamber, and an inverted cup extending: within said reservoir and surrounding the upperend of said tube and having its top spaced thereabove.

5. In a liquid depth indicating device, the

combination with an air chamber having its lower end submerged in the liquid to be measured and the surface of which liquid is subject to movement, and a gauge andmeans connecting said gauge and air chamber, of means for introducing air into said air chamber including reservoirs spaced at different distances above said air chamber and having openingswhereby said reservoirs may alternately receive air and liquid during the movemerit of the latter and means forming 'passageways for air and liquid extending from said reservoirs to-a level below thatof the air chamber. v

, 6, Ina liquid indicating device-for. atank, :thefcombinat ion with an air chamber within .the tank and in communication with the liquid'to be measured, a gauge, and aconduit connecting said air chamber and gauge, of

means for'replenishing air in said air chamber, said means'including a conduit extending above the level and below the level of the air chamber and adapted to communicate with the air above the liquid and having an opening beneath said air chamber, and a res-' ervoir at the upper end of said conduit and arranged to receive liquid from the tank, said reservoir being of greater diameter than said conduit and surrounding the upper end thereof, said conduit projecting above the 

